Preview

Human Language Differences Between Alex And Primates

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
438 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Human Language Differences Between Alex And Primates
Language is very important and diverse. Communication is necessary for every living thing, yet we all communicate in very different ways. The human language is by far the most complex form of communication. We are the only living thing able to speak words and understand a wide range of vocabulary. The human language has a large advantage over that of parrots and primates because of our wide vocal range and complex written language. While parrots have the ability to mimic human words ,they have no concept of what they are saying, so humans remain the only living thing able to comprehend words. Parrots are the only other known species that can speak words rather than make noises. Parrots, however, only are able to mimic sounds they have already …show more content…
They are quite the opposite of parrots, who have a vocal range and limited intelligence. Primates are just like the other animals, only able to create simple sounds. Humans and parrots remain the only ones with a complicated vocal range. Primates understand words and are able to communicate with us due to their alarming intelligence. But the humans win out again, as we are able to do both and the primates’ language is unwritten. However, there is always the exception that proves the rule. In this case it is Alex the Parrot. Alex, like other parrots, is able to repeat human words back to us. But psychologist Irene Pepperberg believed that Alex had an understanding of what he was saying. She claims that he communicated with her through the use of colors, objects, numbers, and shapes. While it is likely that Alex was able to recognize patterns, there is little concrete proof that he has a special ability to understand human language. The human language has a large advantage over that of parrots and primates because of our wide vocal range and complex written language. While those species are examples of remarkable animals, they come nowhere near the level of the human

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Chimps have a complex social system and communication methods, including a primitive "language" system containing more than 20 individual sounds…

    • 1213 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Contribution TMA06

    • 1151 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ethology studies and case studies have been performed on our primates to compare human language with animal communication and to teach apes human language. The results suggested that animal communication, although similar to some degrees to human language, yet is qualitatively different. In investigating the evolution of language, this paper will evaluate whether or not human language can account for human distinctiveness from other animals. In doing so, this paper will evaluate the evolutionary process of human language based on two different accounts: one presented by Pinker (2000), who argued that language promoted a distinctive adaptive advantage, and the other suggested by Sperber (2000), who argued that language arose as a by product of cognitive abilities.…

    • 1151 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    If you want a bird who can talk, a Quaker parrot is the one you're looking for because parrot Quaker training is easy. It is a fast-learner, develops a bond with the owner and loves to be around people. Results would be better if just one member of the family would teach a parrot how to talk. Even so, you can hear the bird imitating the other members of the family as well.…

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ant 101 Quiz

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Language is as important in the cultural transmission of traits among chimpanzees and gorillas as it is among humans.…

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Primates are a group of mammals that have special characteristics that include: both eyes are located at the front of the head and they provide binocular or three-dimensional vision; also all primates have 5 fingers (four fingers and a thumb).…

    • 899 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    A male Bonobo ape named Kanzi has made one of the most important advancements in linguistic capabilities amongst primates. The result of accidental exposure to English language has proved his greatest success. Learning from just a few months after birth, Kanzi had started to learn more effectively than any other primate, the structure of language. Kanzi’s researchers took a slightly different approach to the field. They devised a geometrically patterned “keyboard” where each geometric shape labeled, signified a different word. On top of this, they tried a different approach to teaching; they practiced a much more language immersive setting and tried to make life fun for him, instead of repeated rigorous…

    • 1506 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Speaking Bonobo Summary

    • 234 Words
    • 1 Page

    Have you ever wanted to know what an animal is saying? Well Kanzi a 26 year old male Bonobo can understand language very well. Animals can learn and use language to say how they feel and what they want. If multiple animals learn and use language, it would make the human life quite easier.…

    • 234 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since humans and other primates share a variety of characteristics, other primates provide important observations about early humans. Homologies between hominids and other primates enhance to behavior because the physiological and cognitive formations that manage to control human demeanor are likely related to those of other primates than to members of other taxonomic groups. The reality of this broad collection of homologous traits, the commodity of the average evolutionary history of the primates, means that nonhuman primates give beneficial examples for understanding the evolutionary ancestry of hominid morphology and for resolving the basis of human nature.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Unlike the typical primate, humans are able to communicate to other humans without physical contact (MetaPrimate.com,…

    • 1302 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    So an important thing to distinguish when examining ability of non-human primates with communication or language is the actual defined difference between language and communication, and exactly where the definite line of distinction might be separating the two, if there even is a line to be considered when looking at so many different animals. Non-human primates have been studied and observed for both communication and language capabilities and distinction is often necessary to understand what has been discovered and what can be discovered. Many researchers of non-human primates argue that they cannot and do not have the capability of language, while others believe that non-human primates do have language, or can be taught forms of language by humans. Some researchers, that believe that non-human primates do have language or can be taught language, realize that it may not be the same level of complexity as that of human language as a whole but that it is a simple but true language form nonetheless. The reality is the definition of language and communication are what truly can determine if research can show non-human primates having language and or the ability of learning human language when trained, so each research can have potentially a different…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Language is defined as the system of linguistic signs or symbols considered in the abstract. Language is purely a human concept. Though it is used by many animals on the planet, no other animal uses language to the extent or complexity as humans do. This is in part to the larger brain size of humans as opposed to animals. Our closest animal relative, the chimpanzee, has a brain size of around 400cc, while humans have a brain that weighs around 1300cc. This larger brain, as allowed humans to use language more efficiently to achieve its goals. With the development of language rose the characteristics that make us human: self-awareness, higher emotion, and personal memory.…

    • 1454 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Almost all animals communicate. As author, David Abram, mentions in his text, The Spell of the Sensuous, animals “…communicate with each other, often employing a repertoire of gestures, from “marking” territory with chemical secretions, to the facial expressions of many mammal species, to the hosts of rattles, cries, howls, and growls…” (78). Unlike most animals, the preferred means of communication is language. Language is more than simply a method of communicating information, it holds much more power, and that power is dependent entirely on how we employ it.…

    • 332 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    decision

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Animals communicate differently. Some animals like dog, dolphins, and birds have developed their own system of communication. But their communication system differs from human communication. Animal communication lacks flexibility and creativity. Their communication tradition is acquired genetically and not through learning .Human language has…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For example, a western lowland gorilla named Koko has been taught a modified version of American Sign Language and has the equivalent of a three year old’s vocabulary (Morin). Another animal taught how to communicate using a human language was the African Grey parrot, Alex. Alex’s handler taught him a variety of words which Alex was able to use to create sentences to answer questions and communicate what he wanted ("ALEX - One of the Most Smartest Parrots Ever!"). Alex could actually understand the language and form sentences. The fact that animals such as parrots and gorillas can learn a language to communicate with humans is a testament to their intelligence.…

    • 463 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    (1) For years, scientists have attempted to teach animals to communicate, but for the most part, their efforts have failed. (2) In the 1950s, psychologists failed to teach a chimpanzee to speak, for the ape was able to grunt only a few words. (3) In the 1960s, however, a chimp named Washoe learned the sign language of the deaf. (4) Washoe came to understand hundreds of words, and he used them to communicate and express original ideas. (5) As it turns out, the great apes have the capacity to learn language, but they cannot speak. (6) This research proved that humans are not the only animals capable of using language; however, they are the most sophisticated users of…

    • 119 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays